Stokes picked by Northern Superchargers – the lowdown on The Hundred

Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow will play away from Headingley.

The first players have been selected for the inaugural edition of The Hundred, an eight-team competition spread across five weeks that is set to launch next summer.

England’s Test stars were picked in the first stage of the draft process on Thursday, with ‘icon’ players from each side’s catchment area also chosen, while the team names were finally confirmed.

Ben Stokes was chosen ahead of Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow by the Leeds-based Northern Superchargers, meaning the Yorkshire pair will not compete for their ‘home’ side in The Hundred.

The England and Wales Cricket Board’s brainchild has led to some controversy since it was announced as a new format, consisting of 100 balls per side with traditional six-ball overs banished.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at each city-based franchise.

Leeds

Ben Stokes will play for Northern Superchargers (ECB)

Name: Northern Superchargers

Venue: Headingley

Representing: Yorkshire and Durham

Coach: Darren Lehmann

England Test Player: Ben Stokes

Local Icons: Adil Rashid & David Willey

Northern Superchargers had an embarrassment of riches to choose from for their England Test player pick, but opted for Stokes, with Root and Bairstow set to play away from their home ground Headingley.

Manchester

Jos Buttler was picked for the Manchester Originals (ECB)

Name: Manchester Originals

Venue: Old Trafford

Representing: Lancashire

Coach: Simon Katich

England Test Player: Jos Buttler

Local Icons: Saqib Mahmood & Matt Parkinson

With James Anderson acting as a ‘mentor’ in the competition rather than a player, Manchester Originals had a simple pick to take Jos Buttler. Their icon player choice was trickier, with Matt Parkinson and Saqib Mahmood getting the nod over Liam Livingstone.

Nottingham

Joe Root will play away from home having been chosen by Trent Rockets (ECB)

Name: Trent Rockets

Venue: Trent Bridge

Representing: Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire

Coach: Stephen Fleming

England Test Player: Joe Root

Local Icons: Alex Hales & Harry Gurney

Root was scooped up by the Trent Rockets, who are also able to boast one of the world’s most destructive T20 batsmen in Nottinghamshire’s Alex Hales as one of their local icons.

Birmingham

Name: Birmingham Phoenix

Venue: Edgbaston

Representing: Warwickshire and Worcestershire

Coach: Andrew McDonald

England Test Player: Chris Woakes

Local Icons: Moeen Ali & Pat Brown

Chris Woakes was the only England Test player available to the Birmingham Phoenix with Moeen Ali having lost his red-ball contract, but the Worcestershire all-rounder was a simple choice as local icon alongside his county team-mate Pat Brown – who has been rewarded for superb Vitality Blast form.

Cardiff

Gary Kirsten, right, has previously coached India (Nigel French/PA)

Name: Welsh Fire

Venue: Sophia Gardens

Representing: Glamorgan, Gloucestershire and Somerset

Coach: Gary Kirsten

England Test Player: Jonny Bairstow

Local Icons: Tom Banton & Colin Ingram

Bairstow will spearhead the Welsh Fire, who also pick Somerset’s Tom Banton. The wicketkeeper-batsman has burst onto the scene with scintillating white-ball form this season and is rewarded with a pick in The Hundred. Gary Kirsten is currently the coach, although he has been linked strongly to the vacant position as England head coach.

North London

Rory Burns is the Test player for London Spirit (ECB)

Name: London Spirit

Venue: Lord’s

Representing: Middlesex, Essex and Northamptonshire

Coach: Shane Warne

England Test Player: Rory Burns

Local Icons: Eoin Morgan & Dan Lawrence

England’s World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan does not have a Test contract but is the eye-catching name in the London Spirit squad. They also choose Essex batsman Dan Lawrence as a local icon, with Rory Burns their Test player.

South London

The Curran brothers will both appear for Oval Invincibles (Steven Paston/PA)

Name: Oval Invincibles

Venue: The Oval

Representing: Surrey and Kent

Coach: Tom Moody

England Test Player: Sam Curran

Local Icons: Jason Roy & Tom Curran

The Curran brothers are, unsurprisingly, paired together alongside Jason Roy – who was not handed a red-ball contract after a disappointing start to his Test career.

Southampton

Jofra Archer spearheads Southern Brave (ECB)

Name: Southern Brave

Venue: Ageas Bowl

Representing: Hampshire and Sussex

Coach: Mahela Jayawardene

England Test Player: Jofra Archer

Local Icons: James Vince & Chris Jordan

Jofra Archer’s stunning arrival on the international scene made him a certainty for the Southern Brave, where he lines up alongside Sussex team-mate and friend Chris Jordan as well as Hampshire’s James Vince.